Help Benny Recover from Open Heart Surgery

My brother Ben, as many of you know, is a very special human. A legend that I am incredibly privileged to call my big bro. Late in 2023, after some serious shortness of breath, feelings of fatigue and many other unusual symptoms, Ben was rushed to Geelong hospital in an ambulance. After several days in hospital, he was advised by the doctors that his heart wasn’t working properly. This was due to Ben being born with a heart murmur (aortic valve stenosis), but I’d rather say he was born with a very special heart. A heart that is always looking out for others. A heart that is worn on his sleeve. A heart that is unique, vulnerable and just incredible.

Whether that’s through being someone you can always talk to or the way he shares his soul through music. He’ll always show genuine care and lend an ear to absolutely anyone in need. And even though Ben is always there for others, he doesn’t find it easy to take help from others himself. A Go Fund Me to help him through this extremely tough time is something several friends had offered setting up for him throughout the year, and as much as he was grateful for the kindness, he struggled to accept the help. It’s only now that Ben has agreed to let me do this for him.

The last 9+ months have been an incredibly difficult journey for Ben, not only physically, but emotionally and of course financially. Ben has had a positive attitude throughout this very heavy and life altering journey and it has even inspired him to share his music with the world again. However at the end of the day, he has had to completely pull back his work prior to surgery since late last year and then completely stop working for most of this year so far.

A little about the surgery - Ben was originally going to get a mechanical valve, however after being sent to another specialist, had landed on the decision to have donor valve surgery. As we know, life doesn’t always go to plan, and they had to make the decision on the operating table to go back to the original plan of the mechanical valve. For this operation they completely cut his chest open, stopped his heart, replaced his aortic valve with a mechanical valve, restarted his heart and wired up his chest. It has so far been a huge journey to recovery, which has included an infection post op, as well as an inflamed heart and fluid around the heart, which took him back to hospital on several occasions.

Thankfully he is now heading in the right direction, which I am ever so happy to see, and is getting much closer to getting back to his usual self, and back to work. Ben is however still in regular pain, going through rehab and is limited in many aspects of his life. Full recovery is estimated to be 12 months from the operation.

It’s always hard to ask for help, even when you truly need it. I wanted to reach out to the good people of the earth to assist Benny in getting back on his feet. It’s been incredibly hard watching from afar, when all Ben wants to do is get up and get going.

For those wondering how they can help. Please send your love, good energy and if you’re in a position to do so financially, your support for this Go Fund Me. It would be greatly appreciated and go a long way in helping this beautiful brother of mine get back on track after this life changing surgery.

Peace, love and good vibes.

Katie

xx